System and Method to Stack an Open NAND Flash Interface Module over a Minicard

ABSTRACT

A system includes a minicard host connector and an open NAND flash interface host connector. The minicard host connector is configured to receive a minicard. The open NAND flash interface host connector is in physical communication with the minicard host connector and configured to receive an open NAND flash interface card. The open NAND flash interface host connector includes first and second retention arms extending from opposite ends of the open NAND flash interface host connector. The open NAND flash interface host connector is sufficiently wide for the minicard host connector to fit between the first and second retention arms.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, andmore particularly relates to a system to stack an open NAND flashinterface module over a minicard.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Becausetechnology and information handling needs and requirements can varybetween different applications, information handling systems can alsovary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allow forinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airlinereservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardwareand software components that can be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and can include one or more computer systems,data storage systems, and networking systems.

There are a number of different types of memory cards and/or devicesthat can be connected to an information handling system, such as aminicard, an open NAND flash interface (ONFI) card, a universal serialbus (USB) memory, and the like. Each type of card and/or device needs aconnector to provide communication between the card and the motherboardof the information handling system. The cards and connectors usuallyrequire specific footprints or areas on the motherboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stacked dual connector system;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are additional perspective views of the stacked dualconnector system with a minicard and an open NAND flash interface cardconnected to the stacked dual connector system; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a general computer system.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachingsand should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings can certainlybe utilized in this application.

FIGS. 1-3 show a stacked dual connector host system 100 of aninformation handling system. For purposes of this disclosure, aninformation handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregateof instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect,record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information,intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment,or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be apersonal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network serveror storage device, a switch router or other network communicationdevice, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape,performance, functionality, and price. The information handling systemmay include memory, one or more processing resources such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additionalcomponents of the information handling system may include one or morestorage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

The stacked dual connector host system 100 includes an open NAND flashinterface (ONFI) host connector 102, a minicard host connector 104, anda motherboard 106. The minicard host connector 104 is preferablyconnected to the motherboard 106 in the conventional manner, such thatthe minicard host connector is connected directly on the motherboard.The ONFI host connector 102 is preferably connected to the motherboard106 behind the minicard host connector 104. The ONFI host connector 102includes retention arms 108 and solder tabs 110. The retention arms 108extend forward from the ONFI host connector 102 toward the minicard hostconnector 104. The retention arms 108 are sufficiently wide for theminicard host connector 104 to fit between the retention arms. Thesolder tabs 110 extend downward from the retention arms 108 along theminicard host connector 104 and connect to the motherboard 106 on theouter edge of the minicard host connector. The motherboard 106 includesmounting bosses 112 which are used to connect a minicard 202 to themotherboard, discussed below in FIG. 2.

In an embodiment, the minicard host connector 104 is 30 mm wide, and adistance between the retention arms 108 is greater than 30 mm. In anembodiment, the minicard host connector 104 has a height of 4 mm. Inanother embodiment, the minicard host connector 104 has a height of 4.5mm. The ONFI host connector 102 preferably extends up from themotherboard 106 such that the ONFI host connector is above the minicardhost connector 104.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the minicard 202 can be connected to theminicard host connector 104, and an ONFI card 204 can be connected toONFI host connector 102, as discussed below. The minicard 202 includes aminicard mount 206 which in turn includes mounting holes 208. Theminicard 202 can be a communication device, a memory device, and thelike that is preferably configured to be received within the minicardhost connector 104. The minicard 202 preferably has specific dimensions,number of pins, and the like that are different than a conventionalinterface card. For example, the minicard 202 can preferably have awidth that is smaller than a conventional interface card. The ONFI card204 preferably includes a NAND flash memory chip to provide aninformation handling system with additional data storage. The ONFI card204 is preferably configured to be received within the ONFI hostconnector 102.

The minicard 202 is preferably inserted between the retention arms 108and into the minicard host connector 104 at about a thirty degree angleto the motherboard 106. Upon the minicard 202 engaging the minicard hostconnector 104, the minicard can be pressed downward toward themotherboard 106 until the minicard mount 206 is preferably placed inphysical communication with the mounting bosses 112, and the mountingholes 208 are preferably aligned with the mounting bosses 112 located onthe motherboard 106. The minicard 202 can be thereby secured to themotherboard 106 via screws being inserted through the mounting holes 208and into the mounting bosses 112.

Upon the minicard 202 being inserted within the minicard host connector104, the ONFI card 204 can be inserted within the ONFI host connector102. The ONFI card 204 is preferably placed at a thirty degree anglewith the motherboard 106 as the ONFI card is first engaged with the ONFIhost connector 102. As ONFI card 204 is pressed downward, the ONFI cardcan be completely inserted into the ONFI host connector 102, such thatthe ONFI card is placed in physical communication with the minicard 202and the minicard host connector 104. In an embodiment, the ONFI hostconnector 102 connection for the ONFI card 204 has a height greater than4 mm. In another embodiment, the ONFI host connector 102 connection forthe ONFI card 204 has a height greater than 4.5 mm. In an embodiment,the minicard 202 can be a standard minicard having a length of 50.95 mmas shown in FIG. 2. In another embodiment, the minicard 202 can be ahalf-size minicard having a length of 26.8 mm as shown in FIG. 3. If theminicard 202 is the half-size minicard, the mounting bossed 112 can berepositioned such that the mounting holes 208 can align with themounting bosses as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system 400in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.The computer system 400 can include a set of instructions that can beexecuted to cause the computer system to perform any one or more of themethods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computersystem 400 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected suchas using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 400 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner,a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 400 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, whilea single computer system 400 is illustrated, the term “system” shallalso be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 400 may include a processor 402 such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 400 can include a main memory 404 and astatic memory 406 that can communicate with each other via a bus 408. Asshown, the computer system 400 may further include a video display unit410, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 400 may include aninput device 412, such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 414,such as a mouse. The computer system 400 can also include a disk driveunit 416, a signal generation device 418, such as a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 420.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 4, the disk drive unit416 may include a computer-readable medium 422 in which one or more setsof instructions 424 such as software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 424 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 424 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 404,the static memory 406, and/or within the processor 402 during executionby the computer system 400. The main memory 404 and the processor 402also may include computer-readable media. The network interface device420 can provide connectivity to a network 426, e.g., a wide area network(WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 424 or receives and executes instructions 424responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 426 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 426.Further, the instructions 424 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 426 via the network interface device 420.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

1. A system comprising: a minicard host connector configured to receive a minicard; and an open NAND flash interface host connector in physical communication with the minicard host connector and configured to receive an open NAND flash interface card, the open NAND flash interface host connector including: first and second retention arms extending from opposite ends of the open NAND flash interface host connector, the open NAND flash interface host connector being sufficiently wide for the minicard host connector to fit between the first and second retention arms.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a first solder tab extending downward and outward from the first retention arm, the first solder configured to secure the first retention arm to a motherboard and to provide a ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a second solder tab extending downward and outward from the second retention arm, the second solder configured to secure the second retention arm to the motherboard and to provide the ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector is sufficiently high enough that the open NAND flash interface card is above the minicard connector host when the open NAND flash interface card is connected to the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein a distance between the first and second retention arms is greater than 30 mm.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein a height of the open NAND flash interface host connector is greater than 4 mm.
 7. An information handling system comprising: a motherboard; a minicard host connector in physical communication with the motherboard, the minicard host connector configured to receive a minicard; and an open NAND flash interface host connector in physical communication with the motherboard and configured to receive an open NAND flash interface card, the open NAND flash interface host connector including: first and second retention arms extending from opposite ends of the open NAND flash interface host connector, the open NAND flash interface host connector being sufficiently wide for the minicard host connector to fit between the first and second retention arms.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a first solder tab extending downward and outward from the first retention arm, the first solder configured to secure the first retention arm to a motherboard and to provide a ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a second solder tab extending downward and outward from the second retention arm, the second solder configured to secure the second retention arm to the motherboard and to provide the ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 10. The system of claim 7 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector is sufficiently high enough that the open NAND flash interface card is above the minicard connector host when the open NAND flash interface card is connected to the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 11. The system of claim 7 wherein a distance between the first and second retention arms is greater than 30 mm.
 12. The system of claim 7 wherein a height of the open NAND flash interface host connector is greater than 4 mm.
 13. An information handling system comprising: a minicard; an open NAND flash interface card; a minicard host connector configured to receive the minicard; and an open NAND flash interface host connector in physical communication with the minicard host connector and configured to receive the open NAND flash interface card, the open NAND flash interface host connector including: first and second retention arms extending from opposite ends of the open NAND flash interface host connector, the open NAND flash interface host connector being sufficiently wide for the minicard host connector to fit between the first and second retention arms.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a first solder tab extending downward and outward from the first retention arm, the first solder configured to secure the first retention arm to a motherboard and to provide a ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector further comprises: a second solder tab extending downward and outward from the second retention arm, the second solder configured to secure the second retention arm to the motherboard and to provide the ground connection for the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 16. The system of claim 13 wherein the open NAND flash interface host connector is sufficiently high enough that the open NAND flash interface card is above the minicard connector host when the open NAND flash interface card is connected to the open NAND flash interface host connector.
 17. The system of claim 13 wherein a distance between the first and second retention arms is greater than 30 mm.
 18. The system of claim 13 wherein a height of the open NAND flash interface host connector is greater than 4 mm.
 19. The system of claim 13 wherein a length of the minicard is approximately 50.92 mm.
 20. The system of claim 13 wherein a length of the minicard is approximately 26.8 mm. 